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Major airlines ask Ontario government to foster a viable and competitive aviation industry

OTTAWA, March 22, 2013 /CNW/ - The National Airlines Council of Canada
(NACC) called upon the Ontario government to foster the development of
a viable and competitive aviation industry in Ontario by eliminating
the provincial tax on jet fuel for international flights. The request
was made in a joint submission with the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic
Affairs as part of its pre-budget consultations. IATA represents some
240 airlines representing 84% of global airline traffic. Included in
the submission is a report, prepared by Prof. Fred Lazar of York
University's Schulich School of Business, that details the benefits
accruing to Ontario from elimination of the aviation fuel tax. (For a
copy of this report, please see http://www.airlinecouncil.ca/en/document-library.html.)

"Aviation is a major enabler of many sectors of the economy. Eliminating
this tax will stimulate travel and tourism to the greater benefit of
Ontario's economy. Moreover, Ontario would harmonize its tax policy
with that of the national government as well as with the policies of
most provinces," said George Petsikas, President of the NACC.

British Columbia recently eliminated its provincial tax on aviation fuel
to increase its competitiveness and attract new services to Vancouver
International Airport and the jobs that are created with the new
services. NACC and IATA urged the Ontario government to recognize the
value of the aviation industry as an economic engine, facilitator of
growth and enabler of the travel and tourism trade, and eliminate its
provincial fuel tax.

The National Airlines Council of Canada is a trade association founded
by Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Jazz Aviation LP in order to
ensure safe, sustainable and competitive air travel. NACC members are
also, by far, the largest airline users of Ontario's leading
international airports, namely Toronto-Pearson International and Ottawa
Macdonald-Cartier International.